NBANBA Headlinesen-usSun, 02 Aug 2015 13:45:31 -0500Sportshttp://www.wtvq.com/rss/3601.rssSun, 02 Aug 2015 01:00:01 -0500/story/d/story/report-thunder-sign-singler-to-extension/34360/0gQaJNdd0UyqjrVHQF5vtghttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/report-thunder-sign-singler-to-extension/34360/0gQaJNdd0UyqjrVHQF5vtgReport: Thunder sign Singler to extension<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly retained restricted free agent forward Kyle Singler with a five-year contract extension.</p><p>Yahoo! Sports reported the pact, which cannot be officially announced until the NBA's free agency moratorium is lifted July 9, to be worth $25 million over its duration.</p><p>Singler played in 26 games and started 18 for the injury-plagued Thunder after being acquired in a trade-deadline deal with Detroit in February. The former Duke standout averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and shot 39.8 percent from 3- point range over 80 overall games (58 starts) with the Pistons and Oklahoma City last season.</p><p>A second-round pick (No. 33 overall) of Detroit in the 2011 draft, Singler has posted averages of 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds over three NBA seasons.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:10 -0500/story/d/story/celtics-reportedly-sign-amir-johnson/24686/HEotcwjmW0GJ8AY-WJtl8Ahttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/celtics-reportedly-sign-amir-johnson/24686/HEotcwjmW0GJ8AY-WJtl8ACeltics reportedly sign Amir Johnson<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Celtics have agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with free agent forward Amir Johnson, according to Yahoo! Sports.</p><p>Johnson joins the Celtics following a six-year stint with the Toronto Raptors, during which he started 72 games in each of the past two seasons. The 10-year veteran has averaged 9.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over the last three campaigns.</p><p>The 28-year-old entered the NBA as a second-round pick of Detroit in 2005 and has played in 586 regular-season games along with 22 postseason contests. Johnson owns career averages of 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.</p><p>Boston also re-signed forward Jonas Jerebko to a two-year, $10 million deal on Wednesday's opening day of free agency, USA Today reported.</p><p>Acquired in a trade with Detroit in February, Jerebko averaged 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while hitting 40.6 percent of his 3-point attempts over 29 games with the Celtics.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:10 -0500/story/d/story/report-suns-sign-tyson-chandler/39938/aupNGEH5Tk68CQ-r8tTAqAhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/report-suns-sign-tyson-chandler/39938/aupNGEH5Tk68CQ-r8tTAqAReport: Suns sign Tyson Chandler<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns made a move to bolster both their defense and frontcourt on Wednesday's opening day of free agency, reportedly agreeing to terms with veteran center Tyson Chandler on a four-year contract.</p><p>According to ESPN, the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year will earn $52 million over the life of the deal, which cannot be officially announced until July 9 under league rules.</p><p>One of the league's premier defensive anchors and rebounders, Chandler pulled down 11.5 boards per game while averaging 10.3 points over 75 contests with the Dallas Mavericks this past season. The 14-year veteran has been named to the NBA's All-Defensive Team three times over his career and was an All-Star with the New York Knicks in 2012-13.</p><p>Over 920 career games with the Mavericks, Knicks, Bulls, Hornets and Bobcats, Chandler has averaged 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The 32-year-old also won an NBA championship during his first stint with Dallas in 2010-11.</p><p>Chandler is expected to provide the Suns with an experienced presence in the middle to rotate with 22-year-old Alex Len while upgrading the team's interior defense.</p><p>The signing comes shortly after the Suns reportedly retained restricted free agent guard Brandon Knight with a five-year, $70 million contract.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:09 -0500/story/d/story/love-returning-to-cavs/30978/trJebPr2vUyYYyIUNod_DQhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/love-returning-to-cavs/30978/trJebPr2vUyYYyIUNod_DQLove returning to Cavs<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - Stating that he has "unfinished business", Kevin Love has decided to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers for next season and beyond.</p><p>Love announced his intention to re-sign with the Cavs in a piece he authored for The Players' Tribune website, while ESPN reported that the free-agent forward has agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract to remain with the defending Eastern Conference champions.</p><p>The decision comes one week after Love opted out of the final year of his previous deal. Under league rules, the Cavaliers cannot formally announce the signing until July 9.</p><p>"I'm going back to Cleveland," Love wrote. "After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that's when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn't have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court.</p><p>"Yeah, of course I've heard the free agency rumors. But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me. We're all on the same page and we're all in. We have unfinished business and now it's time to get back to work."</p><p>Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds over 75 regular-season games in his first season in Cleveland, though he played in just four playoff contests before suffering a dislocated shoulder that required surgery during the opening-round series against Boston.</p><p>The 26-year-old made three All-Star teams in six seasons with Minnesota before being shipped by the Timberwolves to the Cavaliers last August, part of a blockbuster trade in which Minnesota received reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins.</p><p>Prior to joining the Cavs, Love averaged 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds over 364 games with the Timberwolves. He ranked fourth in the league in scoring (26.1 ppg) during his final season in Minnesota and led the NBA in rebounding (15.2 rpg) in 2010-11.</p><p>With Love back in field, the Cavaliers can now focus on retaining some of their remaining free agents headlined by LeBron James, who also declined his player option but is expected to re-sign with his hometown team.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:08 -0500/story/d/story/report-bulls-keep-butler-with-90m-deal/12968/w0nkV6nqUUmqrvCVwd3YsAhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/report-bulls-keep-butler-with-90m-deal/12968/w0nkV6nqUUmqrvCVwd3YsAReport: Bulls keep Butler with $90M deal<p>Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - 2014-15 NBA Most Improved Player Jimmy Butler will not be testing the free agent waters, as the Chicago Bulls have reached an agreement with the standout shooting guard on a max contract according to the Chicago Tribune.</p><p>The Tribune reported that Butler will sign a four-year contract that includes a player option for the 2019-20 season, with the total value of the deal able to exceed $90 million.</p><p>Player signings can not be made official by NBA teams until July 9, when the league's moratorium on free agency is lifted.</p><p>Butler was believed to drawing heavy interest from other teams despite his restricted free agent status, which allowed the Bulls to match any offer sheet he signed. Previous reports had indicated that the 2014-15 All-Star was hesitant to sign a long-term contract in order to become an unrestricted free agent next season, when the NBA's salary cap is set to rise considerably due to the league's new television deals with ESPN and Turner Sports.</p><p>The 25-year-old turned himself into a sought-after commodity by putting together a banner 2014-15 campaign in which he averaged a team-best 20.0 points along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 65 games.</p><p>Butler's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons, having averaged 13.1 points and 4.9 rebounds when being moved into a starting role in 2013-14.</p><p>The Bulls have now been able to retain two of their key free agents, having agreed to a reported three-year, $14.4 million contract with forward Mike Dunleavy earlier Wednesday.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:06 -0500/story/d/story/suns-set-to-sign-knight-to-extension/38865/Y3q7IxMxCU2v-vXpai9ibQhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/suns-set-to-sign-knight-to-extension/38865/Y3q7IxMxCU2v-vXpai9ibQSuns set to sign Knight to extension<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns have apparently locked up guard Brandon Knight for the long term, with Yahoo! Sports reporting that the restricted free agent has agreed to a five-year, $70 million extension.</p><p>Knight was able to capitalize on one of the best seasons of his four-year career, as the 23-year-old averaged 17.0 points and a personal-best 5.2 assists over 63 games with Milwaukee and Phoenix in 2013-14. He shot 38.9 percent from 3-point range as well, also a career high.</p><p>The Suns acquired Knight from the Bucks at February's trade deadline shortly after shipping disgruntled guard Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat. He played in just 11 games with Phoenix following the trade due to leg injuries, averaging 13.4 points and 4.5 assists.</p><p>Originally selected by Detroit with the eighth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Knight owns career averages of 15.2 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds over 276 games.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:20:04 -0500/story/d/story/carroll-leaving-hawks-for-raptors/22262/6FwpFpsC1E-Pt5BV7Jibqwhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/carroll-leaving-hawks-for-raptors/22262/6FwpFpsC1E-Pt5BV7JibqwCarroll leaving Hawks for Raptors<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Raptors opened the NBA's free agency period by making a major move, agreeing to terms with forward DeMarre Carroll on a reported four-year contract.</p><p>According to Yahoo! Sports, Carroll will receive $60 million over the life of the deal.</p><p>Carroll, a core contributor to an Atlanta Hawks team that posted the Eastern Conference's best record last season, announced his plans to sign with Toronto via Twitter on Wednesday.</p><p>"#WeThe North I will be playing for Toronto Raptors next year!!!. I'm Blessed for this Opportunity!," Carroll wrote.</p><p>Carroll is renowned for his defensive abilities but contributed on the offensive end as well during his two seasons in Atlanta. The 28-year-old recorded career bests of 12.6 points per game and a 39.5 percent 3-point shooting rate in 2014-15, one year after putting up 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while starting 73 games.</p><p>The six-year veteran joins a Toronto squad that amassed 49 wins and finished first in the Atlantic Division last season, but was swept by Washington in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Carroll fills a glaring need on the Raptors' roster at small forward, where 2014-15 starter Terrence Ross averaged just 9.8 points.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:19:59 -0500/story/d/story/reports-bulls-keep-dunleavy/37114/DbmcYKsMdkKrtbGW9p6nKwhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/reports-bulls-keep-dunleavy/37114/DbmcYKsMdkKrtbGW9p6nKwReports: Bulls keep Dunleavy<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls and veteran forward Mike Dunleavy have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $14.4 million contract, according to Yahoo! Sports.</p><p>The deal cannot be officially announced until the NBA's free agency moratorium concludes on July 9.</p><p>Dunleavy averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 63 games with Chicago last season. In 902 career games with the Warriors, Pacers, Bucks and Bulls, he's averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:19:58 -0500/story/d/story/reports-bucks-retain-middleton-on-5-year-deal/32849/56mANkvBs0mukTSWcZ6IsQhttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/reports-bucks-retain-middleton-on-5-year-deal/32849/56mANkvBs0mukTSWcZ6IsQReports: Bucks retain Middleton on 5-year deal<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will have Khris Middleton back into the fold after agreeing to a five-year contract with the rising swingman, according to multiple reports.</p><p>The Associated Press reported the deal, which cannot be announced until July 9, to be worth a total of $70 million.</p><p>A restricted free agent this offseason, Middleton has blossomed into a quality starter during his two seasons in Milwaukee. The 23-year-old averaged 12.1 points while starting 64 games with the Bucks in 2013-14, then followed up by putting up 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 79 games this past campaign.</p><p>Middleton, who has shot 41 percent from 3-point range over that two-year stretch, came to the Bucks along with guard Brandon Knight from Detroit in the July 2013 trade that sent point guard Brandon Jennings to the Pistons.</p><p>The Pistons originally selected Middleton in the second round of the 2012 draft.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:19:58 -0500/story/d/story/nets-reportedly-come-to-terms-with-lopez-young/21149/QfOXA5gwvUSzu01Swma-9Ahttp://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/nets-reportedly-come-to-terms-with-lopez-young/21149/QfOXA5gwvUSzu01Swma-9ANets reportedly come to terms with Lopez, Young<p>(SportsNetwork.com) - The Brooklyn Nets have reached agreements to re-sign free agents Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, according to multiple reports.</p><p>Both Yahoo! Sports and ESPN reported that Lopez will get a three-year deal in the $60 million range, while Young will get a four-year deal in the $50 million range. The deals cannot be officially announced until the NBA's free agency moratorium concludes on July 9.</p><p>Lopez averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 72 games last season. He has spent all seven seasons of his NBA career with the Nets after they made him the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft.</p><p>The Nets acquired Young in a deal at February's trade deadline that sent Kevin Garnett back to Minnesota. In 28 games with the Nets, Young averaged 13.8 points.</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:19:57 -0500